Rotary engine.



PATENTED APR. 24, I906.

J. H. HOWDBN. ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1905.

attozmu Q I 28 i meson Q .xvg v we, I @m JAMES HENRY HOIVDEN, OF NEEPAIVA, CANADA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed November 11, 1905. Serial No. 286,772.

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to rotary engines operated by steam-pressure and provides an improved construction of the steam-operated swinging-abutment class of great simplicity, compactness, and efficiency.

It is characterized particularly by an improved automatic-valve mechanism adapted for controlling the admission and cut off of steam successively behind the vanes of the piston and by an improved construction of the piston itself and the means for effecting the exhaust therethrough.

An engine embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a vertical cross-section thereof. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section.

In the cylinder A works the rotary piston B, which is a hollow cylindrical body of smaller diameter than the cylinder and having a desired number of vanes C (two in the present illustration) revolving in close contact with the cylinder-walls. Adjacent to the side of the cylinder is a steam-chest D, to which steam is supplied from the boiler or other source of supply, as by the steampipe E. In this steam-chest is a rocking or oscillating valve F, having a steam port or way therethrough, which works back and forth from the full-line position to the dottedline position, (indicated in Fig. 1,) the latter position being preferably sustained for a briefer interval than the former. Between said rocking valve F and the cylinder a par tition G divides the steam-chest into two passagesan upper one H and a lower one I, the latter being preferably the larger.

At the inner end of the steam-chest there is an intermediately-fulcrumed flap-valve J, whose inner side is shaped to conform to the interior cylinderwalls, constituting an oscillating segment of the cylinder-walls. Said valve J, whose arms work closely in the passages H and I, moves back and forth from the full-line position to the dotted-line position, (indicated in Fig. 1,) thereby alternately opening and closing the passage I. Movement to the dotted-line position is limited by a suitable stop.

The hollow piston B communicates with the chamber of the cylinder by openings or ports K in front of the respective vanes C, and said piston also communicates with the atmosphere or. the exterior of the cylinder through an opening in one cylinder-head, as at L.

For actuating the rocking valve F a gear M, driven by a gear N on the piston-shaft or axle, has a crank-pin connected by a rod 0 with a rocker-arm or lever P, fast on the valve-rod The gears M and N are proportioned to effect as many oscillations of valve F per rotation of the piston as there are piston-vanes. Therefore in the present case, there being but two vanes, the gears are in the ratio of two to one.

The operation is as follows: As each pistonvane C approaches the flap-valve J said valve is held closed in the dotted-line position by steam-pressure in the passage H; but as soon as the vane passes said valve J opens to the full-line position b y steam-pressure in the passage I, the rocking valve F having turned from dotted-line position, thus admitting steam behind the vane to propel the piston, the valve J acting as an abutment and its free end being in close contact with the oylindrical piston to pervent leakage of steam back of said valve, thus avoiding back pressure. The exhaust takes place through the openings or ports K, thence through the hollow piston and out at L, and during admission of steam behind one vane any exhaust-steam confined behind the valve J and the next approaching vane is forced into said hollow piston at K and thence out through the opening IJ. When the desired length of admission is had at I, the valve J closes or returns to dotted-line position and is kept closed by steam-pressure in H until the next vane has reached proper position for the next admis sion, the rocking valve F being of course properly timed to effect these movements. It will be observed that I is the main steampassage, while If is in the nature of a supplemental passage. The rocking valve F in its full-line position holds its steam-port in such a way as to admit direct passage of steam through pipe E, valve F, and passage 1. I/Vhen said rocking valve F is turned to dotted-line position, its steam-port is held in ICO such a Way as to admit only a small quantity of steam to the passage H sufficient to keep the valve J closed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1; In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, rotating piston therein, lateral steam-chamber divided longitudinally into two steam-passages, a rocking valve having a steamway adapted to admit steam into said passages alternately, and an intermediatelypivoted valve having its two flaps extending across the inner ends of the two steam-passages, one flap alternately closing and opening one steam-passage and serving as a steamabutment when open.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, rotating cylindrical "piston therein of smaller diameter having one or more vanes revolving close to the cylinder-walls, a lateral steam-chamber longitudinally divided into a main steam-passage and an auxiliary steampassage, a rocking valve having a steamway which in one position admits steam into the main passage and in another position admits a relatively small quantity of steam to the auxiliary passage, and a swinging flap-valve at the inner end of said main passage having a tail-flap in the inner end of the auxiliary passage, said flap-valve alternately opening and closing the main steam passage and serving as a steam-abutment when open.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, rotating piston therein, lateral steam-passage, a swinging flap-valve which in one position closes said passage and in an other position opens into the cylinder and constitutes a steam abutment, said flapvalve having a tail-flap or part at the opposite side of its pivot, an auxiliary steampassage behind said tail-flap, and means for directing steam alternately into the two steampassages.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder, rotating piston therein, and communicating steam-chamber at the side of the cylinder, of a valve which in one position closes passage between said steam-chamber and cylinder and which in another position opens such passage and constitutes a steamabutment, and means whereby steam-pressure acts alternately in opposite directions on said valve and thereby moves the same to and from such positions.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, rotating piston therein, lateral steam-chamber, a longitudinal partition dividing said steam-chamber into two passages, a rocking valve having a steamway which admits steam into said passages alternately, and a flap-valve intermediately pivoted at the in ner end of said partition having its flaps acted upon alternately by the steam in the two passages.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HENRY HOWDEN.

Witnesses:

J. J. HAMILTON, DELBERT THURsToN. 1;. 

